Martin Hayter Short (born March 26, 1950) is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, and writer. He has received various awards including two

Primetime Emmy Awards The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

, and a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

. In 2019 Short became an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...

. He is known for his work on the television programs '' SCTV'' and ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves ...

''. Short created the characters

Jiminy Glick Jiminy Glick is a fictional character portrayed by Martin Short in the TV series ''Primetime Glick'' (2001–2003), the subsequent 2004 film ''Jiminy Glick in Lalawood,'' and Short's Broadway show '' Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me''. He began as a ...

and

Ed Grimley Edward Mayhoff 'Ed' Grimley is a fictional character created and portrayed by Martin Short. Developed amongst The Second City improv comedy troupe, Grimley made his television debut on the sketch comedy show '' SCTV'' in 1982, leading to popular ...

. He also acted in the sitcom '' Mulaney'' (2014–2015), the variety series '' Maya & Marty'' (2016), and '' The Morning Show'' (2019). He has also had an active career on stage, starring in Broadway productions including Neil Simon's

musicals Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movemen ...

'' The Goodbye Girl'' (1993) and '' Little Me'' (1998–1999). The latter earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and the former a nomination in the same category. He has starred in

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...

s such as ''

Three Amigos ''Three Amigos'' (stylized as ''¡Three Amigos!'') is a 1986 American Western comedy film directed by John Landis, written by Lorne Michaels, Steve Martin, and Randy Newman (who also wrote the film's songs), and starring Chevy Chase, Steve ...

'' (1986), '' Innerspace'' (1987), ''

Three Fugitives ''Three Fugitives'' is a 1989 American buddy crime-comedy film written and directed by Francis Veber, starring Nick Nolte and Martin Short, with supporting roles by Sarah Doroff, James Earl Jones, Alan Ruck, and Kenneth McMillan in his final fil ...

'' (1989), '' Captain Ron'' (1992), '' Clifford'' (1994), '' Mars Attacks!'' (1996), '' Jungle 2 Jungle'' (1997), and '' The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause'' (2006). Short also provided voice-work for films like '' The Pebble and the Penguin'' (1995), ''

The Prince of Egypt ''The Prince of Egypt'' is a 1998 American animated musical drama film produced by DreamWorks Animation and released by DreamWorks Pictures. The first feature film from DreamWorks to be traditionally animated, it is an adaptation of the B ...

'' (1998), '' Treasure Planet'' (2002), '' 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure'' (2003), ''

The Spiderwick Chronicles ''The Spiderwick Chronicles'' is a series of children's fantasy books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. They chronicle the adventures of the Grace children, twins Simon and Jared and their older sister Mallory, after they move into the Spider ...

'' (2008), '' Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted'', '' Frankenweenie'' (both 2012), and ''

The Wind Rises is a 2013 Japanese animated historical drama film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli for the Nippon Television Network, Dentsu, Hakuhodo DY Media Partners, Walt Disney Japan, Mitsubishi, Toho and KDDI. It was rel ...

'' (2013). In 2015, Short started touring nationally with fellow comedian Steve Martin. In 2018, they released their

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a ...

special '' An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life'' for which they received three

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...

nominations. Since 2021, he has co-starred in the

Hulu Hulu () is an American subscription streaming service majority-owned by The Walt Disney Company, with Comcast's NBCUniversal holding a minority stake. It was launched on October 29, 2007 and it offers a library of films and television series ...

comedy series ''

Only Murders in the Building ''Only Murders in the Building'' is an American mystery comedy-drama television series created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman. The ten-episode first season premiered on Hulu in August 2021. The plot follows three strangers played by Steve M ...

'' alongside Martin and Selena Gomez. For his performance he has earned nominations for the

, the

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

, the

Screen Actors Guild Award Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1952 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...

, and the Critics Choice Television Award.

Early life

Short was born on March 26, 1950, in

Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Hamilton has a population of 569,353, and its census metropolitan area, which includes Burlington and Grimsby, has a population of 785,184. The city is approximately southwest of ...

, the youngest of five children of Olive Grace (née Hayter; 1913–1968), a

concertmistress The concertmaster (from the German ''Konzertmeister''), first chair (U.S.) or leader (U.K.) is the principal first violin player in an orchestra (or clarinet in a concert band). After the conductor, the concertmaster is the second-most signif ...

of the Hamilton Symphony Orchestra, and Charles Patrick Short (1909–1970), a corporate executive with

Stelco Stelco Holdings Inc. (known as U.S. Steel Canada from 2007 to 2016) is a Canadian steel company based in Hamilton, Ontario. Stelco was founded in 1910 from the amalgamation of several smaller firms. It continued on for almost 100 years, until it ...

, a Canadian steel company. He and his siblings were raised as Catholics. He had three older brothers, David (now deceased), Michael, and Brian, and one older sister, Nora. Short's father was an Irish Catholic emigrant from

Crossmaglen Crossmaglen (, ) is a village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 1,610 in the 2011 Census and is the largest village in South Armagh. The village centre is the site of a large Police Service of Northern Ire ...

, South Armagh in Northern Ireland, who came to North America as a stowaway during the

Irish War of Independence The Irish War of Independence () or Anglo-Irish War was a guerrilla war fought in Ireland from 1919 to 1921 between the Irish Republican Army (IRA, the army of the Irish Republic) and British forces: the British Army, along with the quasi-mil ...

. Short's mother was of

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

and Irish descent. She encouraged his early creative endeavours. His eldest brother, David, was killed in a car accident in

Montréal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-p ...

in 1962 when Short was 12. His mother died of cancer in 1968, his father two years later of complications from a stroke. Short attended Westdale Secondary School and graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in

Social Work Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social wo ...

in 1971.

Career

Early career

When Short graduated from McMaster University, he intended to pursue a career in social work; however, he became interested in acting once he was cast in a

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

production of '' Godspell'' that same year. Among other members of that production's cast were Victor Garber,

Gilda Radner Gilda Susan Radner (June 28, 1946 – May 20, 1989) was an American actress and comedian, and one of the seven original cast members of the "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" on the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). In h ...

, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, and Andrea Martin; Paul Shaffer was the

musical director A music(al) director or director of music is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization. This would include the artistic director and usually chief conductor of an orchestra or concert band, the di ...

."Martin Short Milestones at TCM"
tcm.com, accessed August 26, 2013 Short stated in the documentary ''

Love, Gilda ''Love, Gilda'' is a 2018 in film, 2018 American-Canadian documentary film directed and co-produced by Lisa Dapolito. The film is about the life and career of American comedian Gilda Radner. ''Love, Gilda'' premiered on April 18, 2018 at the Trib ...

'' that he and

dated each other on and off during that time. He was subsequently cast in several television shows and plays, including the drama ''Fortune and Men's Eyes'' (1972). He worked solely in Canada through 1979. In 1979, Short starred in the US sitcom '' The Associates'' about a group of young novice lawyers working at a Wall Street law firm. In 1980, he joined the cast of ''

I'm a Big Girl Now ''I'm a Big Girl Now'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 31, 1980, until May 8, 1981. The series, from ''Soap'' creator Susan Harris and producers Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas, was created and developed as a star vehicle ...

'', a sitcom starring

Diana Canova Diana Canova (born June 1, 1953) is an American actress, director, and professor. She is best known for her role as Corinne Tate on ''Soap'' (1977-1980). Early life Canova was born Diane Canova Rivero in West Palm Beach, Florida, to actress an ...

and Danny Thomas."Martin Short Biography at TCM"
tcm.com, accessed August 26, 2013 Canova was offered the sitcom because of her success playing Corinne Tate Flotsky on ABC's ''

Soap Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used in a variety of cleansing and lubricating products. In a domestic setting, soaps are surfactants usually used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are us ...

'' and left ''Soap'' shortly before Short's newlywed wife Nancy Dolman joined it.

''Second City Television''

Short was encouraged to pursue comedy by McMaster classmates Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas, whom he joined in the improvisation group

The Second City The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise and is the oldest ongoing improvisational theater troupe to be continually based in Chicago, with training programs and live theatres in Toronto and Los Angeles. The Second City Theatre o ...

in Toronto, Ontario, in 1977. He came to public notice when the group produced a show for television, ''

Second City Television ''Second City Television'', commonly shortened to ''SCTV'' and later known as ''SCTV Network'' and ''SCTV Channel'', is a Canadian television sketch comedy show that ran intermittently between 1976 and 1984. It was created as an offshoot from T ...

'' (''SCTV''), which ran for several years in Canada, then the United States. Short appeared on ''SCTV'' in 1982–83. At ''SCTV'', Short developed several characters before moving on to ''

'' for the 1984–85 season: * Aged songwriter

Irving Cohen Irving Cohen was a character that Martin Short used on '' SCTV'', and brought with him to ''SNL''. Known for his admiration of Al Jolson, Cohen was a caricature of old Tin Pan Alley songsmiths, and the running gag in any sketch where he appeared ...

, commonly thought to be loosely based on American composers Irving Caesar and/or Irving Berlin and perhaps Canadian songwriter Leonard Cohen, but actually (according to Short in his autobiography) inspired by

Sophie Tucker Sophie Tucker (born Sofia Kalish; January 13, 1886 – February 9, 1966) was an American singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality. Known for her powerful delivery of comical and risqué songs, she was one of the most popular entertaine ...

* Defense attorney Nathan Thurm * Albino Vegas singer, Jackie Rogers Jr. and his father, Jackie Rogers Sr., the latter of which was mauled to death by a mountain lion during a comeback special that took place in the woods. * Oddball man-child

, later featured on ''SNL'' and in his own short-lived animated television series entitled '' The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley''. The show, which was produced by

Hanna-Barbera Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. ( ) was an American animation studio and production company which was active from 1957 to 2001. It was founded on July 7, 1957, by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera following the decision of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to c ...

and aired for a single season in fall 1988, is the only animated series adapted from an ''SCTV'' character and a ''Saturday Night Live'' character to date.

''Saturday Night Live''

Short joined ''

'' (''SNL'') for the 1984–85 season."Martin Short Characters, Impressions and Guest Appearances"
snl.jt.org, accessed August 25, 2013 He helped revive the show with his many characters for season ten (the last one produced by

Dick Ebersol Duncan "Dick" Ebersol (; born July 28, 1947) is an American television executive and a senior adviser for NBC Universal Sports & Olympics. He had previously been the chairman of NBC Sports, producing large-scale television events such as the O ...

). "Short's appearance on ''SNL'' helped to revive the show's fanbase, which had flagged after the departure of

Eddie Murphy Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and singer. He rose to fame on the sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', for which he was a regular cast member from 1980 to 1984. Murphy has als ...

, and in turn, would launch his successful career in films and television." His ''SNL'' characters included numerous holdovers from his ''SCTV'' days, most notably, his Ed Grimley character, depicted on ''Saturday Night Live'' as a geeky everyman who is obsessed with ''Wheel of Fortune'', plays the triangle, and often finds himself in bizarre situations rather than a miscast bad actor in several film and TV show parodies (''The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley'' used the ''SNL'' characterization of him rather than the ''SCTV'' take on him). He also did impressions of such celebrities as

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian. As his contributions to comedy and charity made him a global figure in popular culture, pop culture ...

and

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...

Since then he has made multiple appearances on the show including on the '' Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special'' in 2015.

Television

In addition to his work on ''SCTV'' and ''SNL'', Short has starred in several television specials and series of his own. In 1985, Short starred in the one-hour Showtime special ''Martin Short: Concert for the North Americas''. This was Short's first live concert, interspersed with studio sketches and a wraparound featuring Jackie Rogers Jr. Co-produced by the CBC, this aired as ''The Martin Short Comedy Special'' in Canada in March 1986. In 1989, Short headlined another one-hour comedy special, this time for HBO, ''I, Martin Short, Goes Hollywood'', Short's classic send-up of all things Hollywood. It featured many of his characters including Ed Grimley and Jackie Rogers Jr. Short has had three television shows called ''The Martin Short Show'', including a sitcom, '' The Martin Short Show'', 1994; a sketch comedy show, ''The Show Formerly Known as the Martin Short Show'', 1995; and a syndicated talk show '' The Martin Short Show'', which ran from 1999 to 2000."Martin Short Biography"
movies.yahoo.com (googleusercontent.com), accessed August 26, 2013 Short starred as

on Comedy Central's '' Primetime Glick'' (2001–2003). He interviewed performers and celebrities as the character Jiminy Glick. The ''New York Times'' in 2002 referred to the character as "the most unpredictable and hilariously uninhibited comic creation to hit TV since

Bart Simpson Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional character in the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'' and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in '' The Tracey Ullman Sh ...

was in diapers." In addition to his own series, Short has guest starred on several shows including '' Arrested Development'' (episode titled " Ready, Aim, Marry Me", 2005), '' Muppets Tonight'' (1996)," 'Muppets Tonight' Martin Short"
tv.com, accessed August 26, 2013 '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'', and '' Weeds''. He joined the FX drama '' Damages'' as lawyer Leonard Winstone in 2010.Clark, Cindy
"Something new for Short: A regular TV role on 'Damages'"
''USA Today'', January 24, 2010 Short voiced

the Cat in the Hat ''The Cat in the Hat'' is a 1957 children's book written and illustrated by the American author Theodor Geisel, using the pen name Dr. Seuss. The story centers on a tall anthropomorphic cat who wears a red and white-striped top hat and a red b ...

in the animated TV series ''

The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! ''The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!'' is a children's animated television series that premiered in 2010, on August 7 on Treehouse TV in Canada, on September 6 on PBS Kids in the United States and also in the UK on CITV and Tiny Pop. It ...

'', which aired from 2010 to 2013.Valiquette, Mike
"Press release: Daytime Emmy noms for Canadian-produced 'Cat in the Hat'"
May 11, 2011 He later voiced the character in a number of related TV specials in 2014 and 2016. Martin Short crop

He shot a new comedy special for television in Toronto in September 2011. The special, ''

I, Martin Short, Goes Home ''I, Martin Short, Goes Home'' is a Canadian television comedy special, written by and starring comedian Martin Short, which aired on CBC Television in 2012.Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin,

Joe Flaherty Joseph Flaherty (born June 21, 1941) is an American actor, writer, and comedian. He is best known for his work on the Canadian sketch comedy '' SCTV'' from 1976 to 1984 (on which he also served as a writer), and as Harold Weir on '' Freaks and ...

, and

Fred Willard Frederic Charles Willard (September 18, 1933 May 15, 2020) was an American actor, comedian, and writer. He was best known for his roles in the Rob Reiner mockumentary film ''This Is Spinal Tap'' (1984); the Christopher Guest mockumentaries ''Wa ...

. The special aired on

CBC Television CBC Television (also known as CBC TV) is a Canadian English-language broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster. The network began operations on September 6, 1952. Its French- ...

on April 3, 2012, and garnered Short a nomination for Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Program or Series at the 1st Canadian Screen Awards. In 2011, Short joined the cast of ''

How I Met Your Mother ''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom, created by Craig Thomas (screenwriter), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005 to March 31, 2014, follows the main c ...

'' for its seventh season, playing Marshall's manic boss and was a judge on the first season of '' Canada's Got Talent'' (2012).Harris, Bill
"More 'Talent' judges announced"
''Toronto Sun'', October 17, 2011 He, along with Steve Martin and

Chevy Chase Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase (; born October 8, 1943) is an American comedian, actor and writer. He became a key cast member in the first season of '' Saturday Night Live'', where his recurring ''Weekend Update'' segment became a staple of the ...

appeared on an episode of ''Saturday Night Live'' as part of the " Five-Timers Club", on March 9, 2013, which included those actors who had hosted the show five or more times. However, Short appeared as a waiter, as he had only hosted three times. From 2014 to 2015, he starred in the Fox sitcom '' Mulaney'', as Lou Cannon, the boss and the game show host of the title character John Mulaney. On May 31, 2016, Short debuted a new variety show on NBC, '' Maya & Marty'', which also starred

Maya Rudolph Maya Rudolph (born July 27, 1972) is an American actress, comedian, and singer. In 2000, she became a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''), and later played supporting roles in the films ''50 First Dates'' ...

. His most recent credit is ''

'', a

comedy series, in which he stars and executive produces alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. In July 2022, he received his 13th

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

nomination for his role in ''Only Murders in the Building.''

Film

After doing sketch comedy for several years, Short starred in ''

'', '' Innerspace'', '' The Big Picture'', '' Captain Ron'', '' Clifford'', ''

'' (1989), directed by

Francis Veber Francis Paul Veber (born 28 July 1937) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer, and playwright. He has written and directed both French and American films. Nine French-language films with which he has been involved, as either writer ...

, with Nick Nolte and

James Earl Jones James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in America ...

; he was the memorable scene-stealing character "Franck" in the 1991 remake of '' Father of the Bride'' and its sequel; and in ''

Pure Luck ''Pure Luck'' is a 1991 American comedy film starring Martin Short and Danny Glover. It is a remake of the popular French comedy film '' La Chèvre'' (1981). Plot The film opens as the klutzy Valerie Highsmith arrives at an airport in Puerto ...

'' (1991), directed by

Nadia Tass Nadia Tass is an Australian theatre director and film director and producer. She is known for the films ''Malcolm'' (1986) and ''The Big Steal'' (1990), as well as an extensive body of work in the theatre, both in Australia and internation ...

, with

Danny Glover Danny Lebern Glover (; born July 22, 1946) is an American actor, film director, and political activist. He is widely known for his lead role as Roger Murtaugh in the '' Lethal Weapon'' film series. He also had leading roles in his films inclu ...

and Sheila Kelley."Martin Short Filmography"
movies.nytimes.com, accessed August 25, 2013 Nasim Pedrad, Martin Short, John Mulaney - September 2014

In 1996, he appeared in

Tim Burton Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker and animator. He is known for his gothic fantasy and horror films such as '' Beetlejuice'' (1988), '' Edward Scissorhands'' (1990), '' The Nightmare Before Christmas'' (1993 ...

's sci-fi comedy '' Mars Attacks!'' as lascivious Press Secretary Jerry Ross. In 1997, he appeared as Wall Street broker Richard Kempster in '' Jungle 2 Jungle'', with Tim Allen. In 2004, he wrote and starred in '' Jiminy Glick in Lalawood'' with Jan Hooks as his wife, Dixie Glick. In 2006, he starred in another movie with Tim Allen, '' The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause''. Short also provided the voices of several animated film characters, such as Stubbs in '' We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story'', Hubie in '' The Pebble and the Penguin'', Huy in ''

'', Ooblar in '' Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius'', B.E.N. in '' Treasure Planet'', Preminger in '' Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper'', Thimbletack the Brownie in ''

'', Stefano the sea lion in '' Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted'', Kurokawa in the English dub of Hayao Miyazaki's ''

'', and The

Jester A jester, court jester, fool or joker was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain guests during the medieval and Renaissance eras. Jesters were also itinerant performers who entertained common folk at fairs ...

in '' Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return''. Short was the host of the defunct

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, ...

attractions '' O Canada!'', a Circle-Vision 360° film in the

Epcot Epcot, stylized in all uppercase as EPCOT, is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division. Inspired by an unre ...

theme park's Canada pavilion, and " The Making of Me" at Epcot's Wonders of Life pavilion, a 15-minute movie about how pregnancy occurs. Short starred in the

original '' The Willoughbys'' (2020) as the impolite father.

Stage

Short resumed work in the theatre, playing a lead role in the 1993 musical version of the Neil Simon film '' The Goodbye Girl'', on Broadway, receiving a

nomination and an

Outer Critics Circle Award The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newsp ...

."Martin Short Broadway Credits and Awards"
playbillvault.com, accessed November 6, 2016 He had the lead role in the 1999 Broadway revival of the musical '' Little Me'', for which he received a

and another Outer Critics Circle Award. Martin Short 2021

In 2003, Short took to the stage once again in the critically acclaimed Los Angeles run of '' The Producers''. Short played the role of the accountant, Leo Bloom, opposite

Jason Alexander Jay Scott Greenspan (born September 23, 1959), known professionally as Jason Alexander, is an American actor, comedian, host and director. An Emmy and Tony winner, he is best known for his role as George Costanza in the television series '' ...

's Max Bialystock. Although the role of Leo Bloom was originated on Broadway by Matthew Broderick,

Mel Brooks Mel Brooks (born Melvin James Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodies. He began ...

first approached Short about doing the part opposite Nathan Lane. On the subject, Short has stated in numerous interviews that, while he was thrilled by the opportunity, the idea of having to move his family from their Los Angeles home to New York for a year was less than ideal and ultimately proved a deal-breaker. Short performed in his satirical one-man show, with a cast of six, ''Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me'', at the

Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre The Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (formerly the Royale Theatre and the John Golden Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 242 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1927, the theat ...

on Broadway. The show toured several cities in the spring of 2006, prior to opening on Broadway in August 2006; the show closed in January 2007. In it, he performed his classic characters Grimley, Cohen, and Glick. As Glick, Short brought a member of the audience (usually a celebrity) on stage and interviewed him or her.

Jerry Seinfeld Jerome Allen Seinfeld ( ; born April 29, 1954) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for playing a semi-fictionalized version of himself in the sitcom '' Seinfeld'', which he created and wrote with La ...

was the guest on opening night. The show also featured parodies of many celebrities including

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was a British-American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1950s. ...

and Richard Burton, Tommy Tune,

Joan Rivers Joan Alexandra Molinsky (June 8, 1933 – September 4, 2014), known professionally as Joan Rivers, was an American comedian, actress, producer, writer and television host. She was noted for her blunt, often controversial comedic persona—heavi ...

Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage producti ...

, Ellen DeGeneres, Renée Zellweger, Jodie Foster, Rachael Ray, and Short's wife, actress Nancy Dolman. The cast album was released on April 10, 2007, and is available from Ghostlight Records, an imprint of Sh-K-Boom Records. Short has continued to tour in his one-man show, which features many of his best-loved characters and sketches. In addition to ''Fame Becomes Me'', some titles that Short has used for his one-man show include ''Stroke Me Lady Fame'', ''If I'd Saved, I Wouldn't Be Here'', and ''Sunday in the Park with

George Michael George Michael (born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou; 25 June 1963 – 25 December 2016) was an English singer and songwriter. He is considered one of the most significant cultural icons of the MTV generation and is one of the best-selling music ...

''. Short's memoir, covering his 40-year career in show business, ''I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend'', was released on November 4, 2014. Since 2015, Short has toured with fellow comedian Steve Martin. Together their tours have included ''A Very Stupid Conversation'' in 2015, '' An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life'' in 2017, and ''The Funniest Show in Town at the Moment'' in 2021. With their 2017 tour, it was filmed for

as a special and was nominated for three

Personal life

Family

Short met Canadian comic actress Nancy Dolman in 1972 during the run of '' Godspell''. The couple married in 1980. Dolman retired from show business in 1985 to be a

stay-at-home mother A housewife (also known as a homemaker or a stay-at-home mother/mom/mum) is a woman whose role is running or managing her family's home—housekeeping, which includes caring for her children; cleaning and maintaining the home; making, buying an ...

and raise their family. Short and Dolman adopted three children: Katherine, Oliver, and Henry. Dolman died of

ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is a cancerous tumor of an ovary. It may originate from the ovary itself or more commonly from communicating nearby structures such as fallopian tubes or the inner lining of the abdomen. The ovary is made up of three different ...

on August 21, 2010. Short and his family make their home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. He also has a home on Lake Rosseau in

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

. He is a

naturalized Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the in ...

US citizen. Short has two stars on Canada's Walk of Fame. His brother, Michael, is a comedy writer and twice winner of the

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

for comedy sketch writing.

Extended family

Nancy Dolman's brother, screenwriter/director Bob Dolman (who served as a part of '' SCTV''s

-winning writing team alongside Short), married their close friend and colleague Andrea Martin, also in 1980. Short is uncle to the couple's two sons, Jack and Joe. Bob Dolman and Andrea Martin have since divorced (2004). Short is a first cousin of

Clare Short Clare Short (born 15 February 1946) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for International Development under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 1997 to 2003. Short was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Ladywood from 1983 ...

, a former member of the British Parliament and former British

cabinet minister A minister is a politician who heads a ministry, making and implementing decisions on policies in conjunction with the other ministers. In some jurisdictions the head of government is also a minister and is designated the ‘ prime minister� ...

Philanthropy

Short appeared in a 2001 episode on the Celebrity ''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire'' hosted by Regis Philbin, winning $32,000 for his charity, Loyola High School. Short has actively campaigned for the Women's Research Cancer Fund, and he accepted a "Courage Award" on behalf of his late wife at a 2011 gala by the group. Short is also a member of the Canadian charity Artists Against Racism.

Sports fandom

Short is an avid fan of his hometown team, the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Tim Hortons Fie ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a c ...

Filmography

Film

Television

Comedy specials

Video games

Theatre

Awards and honours

Over the course of Short's prolific career in film, television and theatre, Short has received various nominations. He received two

nominations, winning for '' Little Me'' in 1999. Short also has received twelve

nominations, winning twice for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series for '' SCTV'' (1983), and ''AFI Life Achievement award: Mel Brooks'' (2014). In 2014 Short received the Robert Altman Award from

Independent Spirit Awards The Independent Spirit Awards (abbreviated Spirit Awards and originally known as the FINDIE or Friends of Independents Awards), founded in 1984, are awards dedicated to independent filmmakers. Winners were typically presented with acrylic gla ...

alongside the cast of

Paul Thomas Anderson Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26, 1970), also known by his initials PTA, is an American filmmaker. He made his feature-film debut with '' Hard Eight'' (1996). He found critical and commercial success with ''Boogie Nights'' (1997) and received ...

's '' Inherent Vice''. Short has received various honours from his birthplace of

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

, including in 1994, being appointed a Member of the

. In 1995, Short received the Earl Grey Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1999, he earned the Sir Peter Ustinov Award at the Banff Television Festival. Short was honoured with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in 2000. In 2015, a stamp of Short was issued by

Canada Post Canada Post Corporation (french: Société canadienne des postes), trading as Canada Post (french: Postes Canada), is a Crown corporation that functions as the primary postal operator in Canada. Originally known as Royal Mail Canada (the operat ...

. In 2016, he received the Canadian Screen Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019 Short became an Officer of the

. In 2001 Short was awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature from McMaster University. Short has also received Medals from

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

, including in 2002 the

Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du jubilé d'or de la Reine Elizabeth II) or the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal was a commemorative medal created in 2002 to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's ...

and in 2012 the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Bibliography

* ''I Must Say: My Life as a Humble Comedy Legend'' (2014, autobiography)

References

External links

* in 2004 * * *
Martin Short, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase interviewed in Austin about The Three Amigos
in 1986 from

Texas Archive of the Moving Image The Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) is an independent 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2002 by film archivist and University of Texas at Austin professor Caroline Frick, PhD. TAMI's mission is to preserve, study, and exhibit Texas film h ...

Martin Short interviewed by Roy Faires KVUE Austin
about his new movie Innerspace (1987) from

. {{DEFAULTSORT:Short, Martin 1950 births Living people 20th-century Canadian comedians 20th-century Canadian male actors 21st-century American comedians 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American memoirists 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male writers 21st-century Canadian non-fiction writers American impressionists (entertainers) American male comedians American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male non-fiction writers American male stage actors American male television actors American male video game actors American male voice actors American people of English descent American people of Irish descent American sketch comedians American television personalities Audiobook narrators Canada's Got Talent judges Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States Canadian impressionists (entertainers) Canadian male comedians Canadian male film actors Canadian male musical theatre actors Canadian male non-fiction writers Canadian male stage actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male video game actors Canadian male voice actors Canadian memoirists Canadian people of English descent Canadian people of Irish descent Canadian Screen Award winners Canadian sketch comedians Canadian television personalities Comedians from Ontario Male actors from Hamilton, Ontario McMaster University alumni Officers of the Order of Canada People with acquired American citizenship Primetime Emmy Award winners Tony Award winners Writers from Hamilton, Ontario